Crystal Waters, a dedicated advocate from Eastern North Carolina, joined the Disability Rights of North Carolina Board of Directors in December 2023. She currently serves as the Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Piedmont Community College in Roxboro, NC. Crystal is deeply engaged in her community, actively participating as a member of the Junior League of Durham and Orange County, the Lambda Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Wake Chapel Church in Raleigh, NC, and the National Career Development Association, where she is recognized as a certified career counselor.
Crystal’s professional journey includes serving as a former board member of the North Carolina Career Development Association and the North Carolina Counseling Association. She holds degrees from East Carolina University, Cambridge College, and Elizabeth City State University. Her accomplishments have been recognized with a prestigious 40 Under 40 award, highlighting her significant contributions in career counseling, human resources, and community development.
Crystal’s personal and professional experiences with disability have profoundly shaped her advocacy. Having witnessed and experienced firsthand the challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly in employment and healthcare, she is passionate about advancing their rights. Her work focuses on fostering equitable employment opportunities and ensuring accessible, inclusive healthcare for all.
Crystal serves on the DRNC board to amplify the voices of those who are often unheard and to advocate for systemic changes that protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities. She believes in the power of advocacy, education, and policy reform to create a more just and inclusive society. Crystal is honored to be part of DRNC’s mission to ensure that every individual in North Carolina has the opportunity to live with dignity, respect, and equal access to essential resources.